We wanted to show the kid Caddo lake so we drove from Dallas to do a tour with Captain Ron…read more Ron is a down home friendly guy who obviously loves people, his job, and Caddo lake. During the 90 minute boat tour, he was enthusiastic and passionate about the lake. He really seemed to enjoy sharing his immense knowledge the lake, both real and legend. I learned a lot and he made the tour very interesting. The day we went it was a bit chilly and overcast. It had just rained so the lake water was muddy, and therefore we did not see much wildlife, just a busy beaver and some blue herons. You can go during the summer when the water is clearer and see turtles and dragon flies. During the summer, the climate is much hotter and humid and there is little air flow on the lake, so be prepared to sweat. Cool and overcast actually was preferable IMO. The wife and I had toured the lake about a decade ago and we left from the northern part of the lake. Our opinion is that despite the fact that Captain Ron did a great job, the northern part of the lake is more interesting than the southern part where Captain Ron is now located.

Had the best experience on the water today. Did a late afternoon tour w/ Captain Ron. Very sweet…read moreguy...full of fun lil facts, stops to admire birds, explain the scenery...just an all around great experience. So glad we booked this. Do yourself a favor...book the experience!! When back in town...will definitely shoot for a full moon tour!!!

Very laid back and personal tour. Small boat, only 8 people and totally non commercial. Mike new…read morethe area history and was very personable. Fairly priced for a great tour of a beautiful and unique area.

I love anything that has to do with water. (Its even my job!) So, Michael Landrum took his big…read morepontoon boat, ripped out all the seating, and put in a bunch of wicker lounge chairs. Comfortable! Michael will take you out on the lake for 1 1/2 hours, giving you the history of the lake, and telling you about the biggest bald cypress forest in the world. It really is! Glenda and I enjoyed every second of the trip. The lake and trees are absolutely beautiful. The Spanish moss is one of Mother Nature's miracles! With all the rain, the lake is 2.5 feet over normal. Saw several docks under water. Never saw an alligator, but we looked! Michael has a picture of a 14 footer! Just imagine. A 250 ft freighter starts in Jefferson, Texas, and a couple of days later is on the coast in New Orleans! Yep. This used to happen! We definitely recommend Michael 's tour. You'll enjoy it!

For the Boat Rental Only…read more Although it seems you drive endlessly through whinedy roads, I finally came upon this place. Red, the man who let me rent the canoe, charged me ten bucks. Not only was that a great deal, but he talked to me and my friends for at least an hour. Red was HILARIOUS. One liners after another. I couldnt stop laughing at the things this man said.

Crip's is a great little fishing camp located on Caddo Lake…read more They have several cabins to choose from. Most have beds, showers, heaters, AC, and refrigerators. Some also have stoves. The cabins are definitely not fancy, but they are a nice get away. They also have boat rentals and a little restaurant that serves breakfast. This place is the camping compromise for me and my wife. It is about as rustic as she will allow. The view of the lake is amazing!

We really appreciate the time Vince took out of his weekend for us. We had a great time even though…read morewe didn't catch a lot and definitely no record breakers. LOL! His friendly fellowship was very welcome. It was great to have someone who believes in the power of The Lord guiding the boat. If we are ever back that way, we will definitely be calling on Vince again.

Caddo Lake Fellowship is THE best Fishing Guide Service in Caddo. Vince is professional and knows…read morethe lake like the back of his hand! Highly recommended fellowship and fishing service.

Quite a hidden gem of Shreveport!…read more Leaving every hour on the hour (10am-4pm on Weekends, slightly shorter availability on weekdays), this tour lasts just about 35-45 minutes and takes you up and down the Red River. The captain, a wonderful gentleman, hopped on board and promptly offered us cold bottled water and advice to sit in the front of the boat under the shade awning and in the best spot for a nice breeze (ALL great suggestions considering the sheer heat and the inability of this Northerner to handle it!) We took off right at 11 and headed down along the river. The Captain gave us a live guided narration that included tidbits about the local community and inhabitants that you won't find in any guide book. We were lucky enough to see turtles sunning themselves, egrets, and other water fowl. We also were able to see all the casinos and learn a bit about their history as well. I loved all of it and really wished we could cruise around all day. It's $15 per adult and really worth it. Loved the hospitality and history!

Cool boat ride for $12 bucks. Learn a little history about the casinos, and the red river.read more

We came from Dallas to the Caddo Lake area for a weekend excursion. The website was clear, and a…read moreboat tour for 2 adults and 1 dog was easy to book (done via phone). Upon arrival at the place, Mike greeted us outside. To our surprise, we got a completely private tour, which we especially appreciated in the setting of COVID. We walked back to the dock and boarded the platoon boat. Mike's boat was spacious and very comfortable with cushioned swivel chairs at the front so that we could get the best view of the scenery. Mike was patient and friendly. Because he is a local, he was able to tell us a lot of cool information about the history and the endemic wildlife in the area. He took us through the most scenic parts of the river, and we had a blast. Mike provides one of the few dog-friendly boat tours that I could find in the area, and I am so glad we chose him. It was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

We did an afternoon tour in the pontoon boat during a short mid-October stay in Shreveport. It was…read moreonly an hour's drive to his location from there. We shared the boat with two other couples, delighted that one couple brought their dog and cat (in a carrier). Mike was friendly and very knowledgable about the lake biology and local history. While we explored the beautiful environment for over almost two hours, he regaled us with informative and humorous stories, answering any questions we had. At one point he unexpectedly stopped the boat just to put up the canopy to make sure the cat didn't get too hot. That really showed his thoughtful nature. Thanks, Mike, for a great time!

John knows this lake like the back of his hand and has so much knowledge and experience. You can't…read morego wrong booking with him. He's fun, polite and will give you memories to treasure!

John Winn is a living legend on Caddo Lake. My wife and I were immediately struck by his immense…read moreknowledge of the lake, and how highly regarded he was by his peers and the locals we met on our kayaking trip. His kayaks were so much fun, and he gave my wife and I lots of tips on what to look for while on the lake (we saw so many white egrets and great blue herons!). We'd totally do it again, and recommend renting with John for anyone else!

Captain Pat did a great job in the swamp tour. Great…read moreinformation and very educational. Pat knows what he is doing!!!! Highly recommend this business and opportunity.

Patrick Collins was a great guide and had amazing stories about the history of caddo lake in the…read morearea. Reasonably priced. I would totally recommend this to anyone new to the area

The ethereal beauty of Caddo Lake, with all its bald cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss, is…read morehaunting and remarkable to say the least. Autumn is a popular time to visit as the cypress needles turn a deep rust color, making for a striking contrast against the dark trunks and silver moss.  But my favorite has always been winter when the trees have gone dormant. They lose all their needles, causing the steely, eerie mosses to take on a ghostly glow when the sun is low, clashing drastically with the shadowy trunks and murky swamp waters. It's dramatic, it's spooky, and it stays with you long after you leave. The trees have "knees" in this swampy bayou ecosystem - they are actually part of the root system and their minion-like appearance as they surround the trees adds to the creepiness of it all.  And did you know that the Spanish moss isn't moss or lichen? It's actually in the same family as pineapple (they're both bromeliads) and they even bloom!  These murky waters and creepy forests are home to so much wildlife - including Bigfoot apparently lol! There are many sightings reported and they hold festivals here.  On my last visit, I saw so many birds, including several bald eagles and an osprey doing a high dive off a cypress to catch his lunch. There are over 75 species of fish in these waters, as well as alligators, though I've never seen any floating around - probably too cold when I visit. The lake itself spans over 25,000 acres and straddles the border between east Texas and Louisiana - and the bald cypress trees are the state tree of Louisiana. It's the only natural lake in Texas and the largest. I was born and raised in these swampy lowlands - and Caddo Lake is, by far, the gem of the region. My favorite spot on the lake to rent a boat or take a cruise is Johnson Ranch Marina - the oldest inland marina in Texas. They have wonderful captains on call to take you out when the light is right for photography and they run regular trips throughout the day as well. They also offer canoe and kayak rentals.  In the surrounding area you'll find Caddo Lake state park which is excellent for hiking and they also rent canoes but you can only access Big Cypress Bayou and not get out into the main lake since it's further out. There's also a wildlife management area owned by The Nature Conservancy that offers hiking as well. Not to mention tons of campgrounds in the state park and surrounding areas (privately owned) with tent sites and cabins too. If you're at all into nature and the great outdoors and water sports of all sorts - this is a perfect family friendly location for you.

This is a real gem of a lake an is actually the only naturally formed lake in Texas.; it was formed…read moreby a large log jam in the 1700's. The lake is known for it's thick groves of bald cypress trees with huge trunks at the base near the water and lace like green needles that turn bright orange in the fall. The lake is split between Texas and Louisiana with the more open area of the lake on the Louisiana side. There are many canals and winding waterways within the cypress groves so it's best to go out with a guide who knows the lake. In the fall when the trees turn orange, photographers from all over the world come to take pictures of the beautiful lake. This was the reason my wife and I went to see the lake. While I am not a fisherman, I've heard it is a good lake for fishing and has catfish, perch, bass and crappy. Be forewarned, like many of the lakes in Texas and Louisiana there are a lot of alligators in the water so only swim in designated places. There are several towns on the lake, Uncertain Texas, and in Louisiana there is Morningsport and Oil City. The town of Jefferson, Texas is nearby as is the Caddo Lake State Park.